Fitness is moving to digital, like everything else. The flexibility of a digital presence in terms of convenience, ease, and price for the consumer has made it a popular choice. NEO U is an all-inclusive platform that enables fitness influencers and workout brands can reach a larger audience by providing a fitness studio (first one is on 37th and 5th) with integrated production facilities. NEO U gives fitness brands the tools to livestream workouts and create state-of-the-art videos for any type of workout including pilates, barre, yoga, and bootcamps. Serving as a digital marketplace for fitness content, the company charges a subscription fee to users while paying out trainers a fee based on the popularity of their workouts on the platform in terms of viewership.
AlleyWatch sat down with NEO U cofounder, Nathan Forster, to discuss building a production studio exclusively for fitness.
Tell us about the product or service that NEO U offers.
NEO U is an all-inclusive platform built to help fitness influencers and workout brands scale to a larger audience. We offer each fitness concept a 20,000 square foot, 3 studio production facility to stream their classes for the ultimate fitness experience for people around the world.
How is NEO U different?
We are the first people in the space that is targeting everyone. We have something on our platform for everyone, from anywhere. I think that’s really unique. This platform serves as an incubator for these trainers, boutique brands and concepts to scale on a global platform.
What market does NEO U target and how big is it?
Users pay $20 a month for unlimited live and on-demand content on the NEO U platform. This gives them access to everything from pilates, barre, yoga, bootcamp, boxing, and more.
This is created to be a marketplace with new content constantly being created and put on the platform. The platform currently has over 15,000 users. We are continuing to add big fitness trainers, boutique fitness studios, recovery physical therapists and more to the app and continuing to evolve content on the platform.
What is the business model?
There is a revenue share system in place where trainers get paid for minutes watched of their content.
What inspired the start of NEO U?
To bring really great fitness and wellness content to everyone, everywhere. We wanted to offer a really great product at a price that is accessible for people globally. NEO U makes this possible.
Any plans to enter the hardware market like some of the recent offerings out there?
Currently, we do not have plans to enter the hardware market. We want to do what we do best; that is create the best content out there for different fitness concepts that don’t have the tools to scale their businesses.
What are the milestones that you plan to achieve within six months?
In six months, we want to have a strong user acquisition flow. We also want to give the best user experience for everyone that is using this platform – and will only continue to improve this for our users.
What is the one piece of startup advice that you never got?
You are made with a lot more time and patience than you think.
If you could be put in touch with anyone in the New York community who would it be and why?
Derek Jeter.
Why did you launch in New York?
New York is the media capital of the world. There is also an array of fitness studios and top-tier talent that lives in the city.
What’s your favorite restaurant in the city?
Keens Steakhouse or ABC Kitchen.
